Abstract

INDIAN MILLETS: HEALTH-PROMOTING NUTRITIOUS CROPS

Dr. Padmavati M. Patil*, Dr. Nilesh V. Chougule and Acharya Deshabhushan

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Abstract

Indian millets are a group of nutritiously rich, drought tolerant and mostly grown in the arid and semi-arid regions of India. They are small-seeded grasses belonging to the botanical family Poaceae. They constitute an important source of food and fodder for millions of resource-poor farmers and play a vital role in ecological and economic security of India. Indian Millets are nutritionally superior to wheat and rice as they are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. They are also gluten-free and have a low glycemic index, making them ideal for people with celiac disease or diabetes.

Keywords: Indian Millets, Coarse cereals, Gluten free, Low Glycemic Index.